Bialetti Moka Express 9 cup Espresso Maker

Product Details

• Boxed-product Weight: 907 g


• Delivery Destinations: Visit the Delivery Destinations Help page to see where this item can be delivered.


• Item model number: 8006363000253


• ASIN: B00004RFRV


• Date first available at Amazon.co.uk: 1 Jan 2002
  

By : La Cafetiere
List Price : £34.99
Price : £28.49
You Save : £6.50 (19%)

Product Description

Manufacturer's Description
Bialetti is one of the top names in Italian housewares and has been manufacturing stove-top espresso makers since the 1930s. Its Moka Express model is still a best-seller today and all products carry the famous 'little man with the moustache' logo.
This Bialetti Espresso maker is the original and best way to make authentic espresso coffee in your home. This clever device works by passing the boiling water through the espresso coffee that is contained in the middle, and collects the espresso in the top compartment ready to pour. Made from cast Aluminium, the Italians favour this method of making espresso as the Bialetti Espresso maker improves with use and age.•9 Cup Espresso Maker by Bialetti•Made from solid cast Aluminium with a black acrylic handle•Simple and easy to use, the box contains full instructions and guidelines•Suitable for all heat sources except induction•Available in a variety of sizes•Spare washers and filters are available from us

 

Bialetti Moka Express 9 cup Espresso Maker

 

Technical Details

• The original aluminium stove-top espresso pot


• All pressure valves are fitted with stainless steel springs and ball bearings

Customer Reviews

This is my first experience of owning a Bialetti Moka Pot. After much deliberation over which size of Moka Pot to buy, I went for the 9-cup version. After a couple of weeks of trial and error, I'm now starting to make a decent brew of coffee:
Findings so far:
A lot of directions for using the Moka Pot recommend using cold water. I find that using just-boiled water from kettle is much quicker, and it also reduces the amount of time the seal and coffee grinds are exposed to the heat, resulting in a less bitter brew and potentially a longer lasting rubber seal;
. I don't tamp down the coffee, just pile it loosely in the funnel. I've also found that I don't need to completely fill the funnel with coffee and to get a good brew - I use about 25 grams of ground coffee per brew;
The base of the Moka Pot gets hot quickly when filled with hot water and can be difficult to grip to tighten it. I find a piece of Dycem mat helps me grip the base to ensure a tight seal. I've read about the handle breaking off with applied pressure so I don't hold the handle to tighten the unit, I grip the upper chamber.
I put it on a very small gas ring on a the lowest heat. I turn the heat off just before the end of brewing when I can hear the water starting to splutter through (be warned, if, like me, you like to have the lid up so you can watch the coffee percolating up, it is wise to close the lid towards the end of brewing as it can come up quite forcefully and splutter over the edge). Don't keep the heat going after brewing has finished as it will boil dry and possibly ruin the Moka Pot. Never leave the Moka Pot on the heat unattended;
The 9-cup Moka Pot, when filled up to the maximum level, holds approx. 450 mls of water in the bottom chamber. As some of the water stays in the bottom chamber, it makes about 350-400 mls of coffee - that's plenty of coffee for the two of us for the morning, either drunk straight or taken as lattes or capuccinos;
I leave the Moka Pot to cool before cleaning. I dismantle it and clean each part thoroughly using hot water only (no soap) and a soft sponge, after each use. The coffee oils reportedly help to 'season' the aluminium and using soap would taint the seasoning. If I'm storing it, I let each part air-dry completely before reassembling the unit. I've read that putting it in the dish washer is not recommended as the dishwasher chemicals affect the metal; it's so quick and easy to hand-wash it anyhow.
I'd definitely recommend buying a Bialetti Moka Pot; which size to buy is debatable. Bear in mind that the 9-cup size is Italian coffee cup size not standard coffee cup size; a typical shot of espresso is 30 mls/ 1 fl oz, so 30 mls x 9 cups = 330 mls. The 9-cup version brews about 350-400 mls of coffee (although it's not technically 'espresso') so in actual fact it does brew at least 9 shots/ cups of coffee. If you had 9 guests and gave each 30 mls of coffee, I'm not sure they'd be satisfied, but you could extend the shots with some milk and make lattes or a cappuccinos. In reality, it makes enough coffee for about 3-4 satisfying drinks.
I use my regular french press to make fantastic foamed milk for cappuccino - heat the milk in the microwave for about 40 seconds in a non-metallic container, pour into the french press and pump the milk quickly with the press - perfect hot milk with foam to spoon on top (one third coffee, one third milk, one third foam = cappuccino);
The crucial factor in brewing great tasting coffee is the freshness and quality of the coffee used. I've been using Cafe Direct's Machu Picchu organic coffee beans - highly recommended, but if you can get freshly roasted beans, even better. I use a vintage manual coffee grinder to grind the beans just before brewing, ensuring a fresher brew; the grind should be fairly fine, but not powdery or you'll get a sludgy brew. I store the beans in the bag, with the top rolled down tight, in the cupboard (not the fridge as the coffee beans take on other flavours in the fridge). They keep for up to 2 weeks like this but I've usually used a 227g bag of beans after about 10 brews/ days.
Hope this review provides some insights into using a Bialetti Moka Pot.
Happy brewing!
P.S. Some people seem to be having problems with the seal - try 'oiling' the rubber seal with a little olive oil and REALLY tighten the chambers together as much as possible.

I purchased the Bialetti Moka Express 9 cup Expresso maker as a Christmas present for my Sister who wanted to reminisce about coffee that our parents made on the cooker hob when we were growing up. She appeared to be delighted with this gift and we regularly share great coffee from it. The only disappointment or should I say frustration is in the limited amount of coffee it makes in one go.

 

Bialetti Moka Express 9 cup Espresso Maker